Since this thread started getting traction for this year, here are few points to keep in mind.
Prepare a solid application package, submit. The moment you pressed submit, accept you are REJECTED. Move on in your life and do the routine stuff you do, day in and day out. Take care of your finals for this semester and enjoy your holidays. Do whatever you are passionate, volunteer work or preparation for your club/science/speech/history or any events/competition etc Don't allow this BS/MD process to get in your way or well being. Especially to parents. Not only you are getting stressed out and unconsciously passing that to the poor student. Follow this rule later for regular MD cycle also after 4 years. It is a long cycle and so difficult to predict. Wait till April 23rd. If something worked out by then enjoy. If not, decide the new strategy and finalize the college to go by May 1st.
Delicate the work to parents to follow and communicate if needed. Following posts takes up lot of time and it is not worth. Parents can do the administrative work without influencing students choice/desire on what career to choose or explore in college.
Last but not least, by nature we continue to look primarily the GPA and Test scores and keep questioning, why I did not get supplemental to apply or why I did not get interview and why I did not get selected. it is the TOTAL PACKAGE. In that GPA and Scores are some factors but not THE ONLY FACTORS. Whatever activities you have done with the level of passion and depth in the last many years (not checklists), how solid your essays / prompts, interviews, strength of other applicants in the pool, and whatever each college feels more important and their selection criteria.
Reg scholarships, I am noticing that most of the UG schools are giving some kind of scholarship. My S received full to partial from OU, UAB, Penn, VCU, etc. He is an NMS but I can not say if itâs due to NMS or not. We certainly do not qualify for need-based. So, if you are a sophomore or junior, you may want to give your best to PSAT. Your parents will be happy
Havenât been on in a while but just a note for the above-
NMSF and NMF are pretty huge- a lot of mid-tier programs give out additional scholarships for them (Alabama, OU etc.)
However, a lot of top programs donât give out anything. I know extremely intelligent people (valedictorian, salutatorian, Siemens SF etc.) who got into top 30 med-programs (BU, NW, Brown PLME) without getting a cent.
So at the end of the day, it mainly comes out to cost: would you rather go to a low-mid tier program while paying a lot less than compared to a top-tier program?
Welcome back, long time no see, looks like they are keeping you real busy at TCNJ? Good for you and your friends there
While your premise above is correct in general, two exceptions. Pitt and cwru give out merit aid for undergrad, independent of selection into their programs. But then you need to spend an extra year to get an MD.
Donât know about merit awards at UAB, but I consider that a âtop-tierâ med school too. But they seem to heavily favor in state and regional candidates in their selections.
If you are alluding to US News rankings by âtop 30â, if I remember correctly Brown PLME is not in top 30 according to them. :))
(The pun is intended at usnews not plme)
For both parents and students, this is your (or childâs) last year in school. College is a different ball park. So now is kind of unique in itâs own outstanding right. Get the best out of this year, spend time with your buddies whom you may not get to see much few months later, enjoy the things and activities you enjoy the most and unique to your schools and communities. Of course put your best efforts in the apps and your current studies (colleges donât like seniorities) and let the chips fall where they may. Nothing is terribly wrong if you get a few disappointments here and there. You all have a long long road ahead and I am sure multiple doors of opportunities will open up for those as talented and inspired as you all are.
Donât let unnecessary thoughts and botherations ruin your present.
@whitecane FYI, Most medical schools require only 1 year of math (calculus I and calculus II). MCAT examination does not allow use of calculator ( All required calculations are supposed to be done in your head or on scratch paper provided). The multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations etc are used in Engineering courses if one decides to pursue them. Most of these schools do not have staff or time to do any detailed analysis of the rigor of the math/science courses taken in high school.
@grtd2010@rk2017@Mahikesh
Rutgers data includes DO admissions
I think a majority of sub 3.5 GPA are admitted to DO.
Rowan alone had 52 DO admissions I.e ~20% of the class.
@whitecane
Every college has a policy that they apply to AP courses. Some give you complete waiver while others like Northwestern want you to take a higher level course.
So, the college your child is admitted speak with the coursework guides .
@NoviceDad These BS/MD programs do offer some level of merit scholarship (10-30K) once accepted by the undergraduate college. U Pitt, CWRU, Drexel, VCU, George Washington, OU, Hofstra, RPI/AMC, Temple, U Cincinnati.
